Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17,397, Nathan Dudley, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Dudley, Nathan
S 17397
Carded.
CONTENTS

21.4.78 Massachusetts
Nathan Dudley fell in battle in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Brown of the Regt commanded by Col. Robinson in the Mass line for Genl. Hovey
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass at the rate of 20 Dollars 67 1/2 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Sept 1833 and sent Hon. John D. Sleeper Boston Massachusetts
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 $57.67 1/2 Semi-annual allowance ending Feb 4 - 10.34 $68.01
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. D. Sleeper Clerk, Book E Vol. 2 Page 18
79 M. O. L...

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Middlesex - AD 1832 SS.
On this twenty second day of August personally appeared in open Court before the Court of Common Pleas  Probate , now sitting at within and for the County of Middlesex in the Commonwealth
aforesaid
Nathaniel Dudley of Lexington in sd 64 aged seventy seven years
Who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. That is to say
 1 That he was a minute man in Concord on the Spring of 1775. and was on Guard the night the British troops came out to Concord the 19 April 1775 - in Captain's Company and was at the Bridge at Concord in the middle of the day when battle commenced and saw the men after he was shot & died. and pursued the Enemy back as far as Lexington meeting them and next day was dismissed. - During this Summer he lay generally on his arms carried supplies when Alarms were given - In March AD 1776 he was called to Dorchester Heights in the Company of Capt. Thomas Barrett where he was stationed six days and was dismissed. -  2 In AD 1777 he engaged to go to Rhode Island for six months in the Company of Capt. Ebenezer Drown. Lt. Darius of Acton farmers' Co. of Lexington inf't John Robinson's Reg't he proceeded to Providence, was stationed at North Kingstown and was employed in guarding the river and in that vicinity until he served out his six months and was dismissed. - 
Nathan Dudley
He relinquishes every claim, whatever, to a pension or annuity, whatever except, the present, and declares that his name is not, on the pension roll, of the agency of any State, the day and year aforesaid
Sworn to and subscribed
We Charles Briggs
Nathan Dudley
Commonwealth of Massachusetts a Clergyman residing in the town of Lexington in the county of Middlesex and John Milliken pastor of the same same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Nathan Dudley
who has subscribed and sworn to the above, and that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier in the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Bless me Sam Dana just Peace for all the Country in sd Commonwealth.
Charles Briggs
Nathaniel Mulliken

And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion, that after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.
And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that Charles Briggs who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the town of Lexington  that  Nathaniel Mulliken  of said town is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Isaac Fiske  Deputy Clerk  J.P.P. May  Abbot Clerk of the Court of Probate in & for said county of Middlesex do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains, the original proceedings, of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Washer Dudley for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this twenty second  day of  August in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and thirty two
Isaac Fiske

Declaration of 15147 Nathan Dudley
This Case contains two papers No. 1. 2. 10/2
Please to send my best to my Agent Sam Dancer Esq. Giston St.
2. 10/2

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex, to wit,
At the Court of Probate
begun and held at Charleston on the twenty second day of August On the application of Nathaniel Dudley Interrogatories were propounded to him to wit:
within and for the County of Middlesex A. D. 1832
claiming to be a Soldier of the Revolution, the following
1 Where, and in what year, were you born  born ?
Answer, I was born in Concord Ms on the 17 th June A.D. 1785-
2 Have you any record of your age, and where is it?
Answer, I have no family record, but there is a record of my age on Concord records
3 Where were you living, when called into service, where have you lived since  lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?
Answer, I was living in Concord Ms, from there I removed to Lexington where I now live.
4. How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if a substitute for whom?
Answer, I always enlisted and all my services were volunteer
5. State the names of some of the regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served, such Continental, and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service?
Answer, I saw Genl. Spencer at Roxburyland
6 Did you ever receive any discharge from service and if so, when and where?
Answer, I never recd. any written discharge.
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution?
Answer, Rev. Mr. Briggs then Nathan Chandler, Rufus Merriam Esq. Walter Moulton, Jas Niles & Solomon Harrington Selectmen of Lexington. Nathan Dudley
1 Madison St. August 22. 1832. Deacon to his honor Probate Court A.D. 1832 James D. Dyer

No 15147
Jonathan Dudley Middlesex County Massachusetts
Print 6 Mar 6 Aug
1408
July 6 1833
P 422
20.642 41.34 10.33 57 67
Saint Dana Esq. Groton Massachusetts

County  BRIEF in the case of Nathan Dudley  of Middlesex  in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 77 years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.      Entered In 1745 } 1746 } 1747 - - 6 As a Minute Man  Gen.  Capt. Miles  Capt. Thos. Barrett  Capt. A. Brown, Col. Dr. Robinson   
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Bridge Water,  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Concord Mass ts .  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Living Witnesses & Documentaries  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? incorrect Not properly attached 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Rich d H. Pratt
Examining Clerk.

17 397 INVALID.
am
File No. 17.397
William Dudley
Phi New War
Act: June 7 th 92
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 441
[Arrangement of 1870.]

15147
Nathan Dudley
Samuel Dana Esq. Grosvenor M.P.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathan Dudley which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? no
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

I Josiah Read of Lexington in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts aged seventy five 75 years, do depose and say, that I served in the war of the Revolution as by my Declaration on file in the Pension Office, will appear: And I do further testify and declare that I well know Nathan Dewey now of Lexington aforesaid who served as a Soldier in that war, that he was a private Soldier, in the Company of Capt. Abisha Brown in Colo. John Robinson's Regiment, in which Company , I also served. We went from Concord and I from Lexington , we were together in Rhode Island & served out term and there dis- served missed on the last day of December AD 1777 . having full six months.
Josiah Read
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
County of Middlesex to wit August - 21 st - AD. 1832.
Personally appeared before me the Subscriber a Justice of the Peace within and for all the Counties in said Commonwealth
Josiah Read - - - - who subscribes the above deposition and made solemn Oath, that the same is just and true in all its particulars, according to the best of his knowledge and belief.
And I further Certify that the above named Josiah Read is a disinterested and credible witness.
Sam l Dana Justice of the Peace as aforesaid
Sam l Dana

Affidavit of Josiah Reed in the case of Nathan Dudley

I Isaac Fiske Register and Clerk of the Court of Probate for the County of Middlesex in the Common Wealth of Massachusetts being a Court of Record. — Do hereby certify that Samuel Dana Esq. is a Justice of the Peace within and for all the Counties of said Common Wealth, and that his name to the Caption of the within de- position is his true and genuine signature. —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court this Eighteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hun- dred and thirty three. —
Isaac Fiske My